Anchor Homeschooling in Virginia
medium regulation
What Virginia requires
- Notice to authorities: Yes. Annual Notice of Intent (Option 1) to local school division superintendent by August 15. Four compliance paths: (1) parent with HS diploma files NOI, (2) religious exemption, (3) approved correspondence course, (4) certified tutor. Under Option 1, annual assessment due by August 1 -- options include standardized test (composite >= 23rd percentile), evaluator letter from a qualified evaluator, or correspondence course transcript.
- Portfolio: Required as one option (or testing).
- Standardized testing: One option — you may test or submit a portfolio.
- Annual evaluator: Not required.
- Quarterly reports: Not required.
- Filing deadline: August 15
- Assessment due: August 1
- Legal paths: option 1 notice, option 2 religious exemption, option 3 approved correspondence, option 4 certified tutor
How to start homeschooling in Virginia
- File your notice with the state. File a Notice of Intent with your local school division superintendent by August 15 each year. Submit end-of-year assessment (test, evaluator letter, or transcript) by August 1. File online with the state →
- Plan your school year. Virginia sets no day or hour minimum, so your calendar is yours — most families still sketch one so progress is visible.
- Put assessment on the calendar. Each year you'll submit either standardized test results or a portfolio of work — decide which at the start of the year so you collect the right evidence as you go.
- Keep records from your first day. Attendance, samples of work, and any test or evaluation results — every requirement above is answered from these three, and they're painless to keep daily and miserable to reconstruct in May.
How Anchor helps
Anchor logs every day automatically when you make an activity entry. It builds the portfolio your state expects, generates the attendance PDF, and reminds you about evaluations before they're due.
Common questions about homeschooling in Virginia
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia requires notice to the authorities before you begin home education. Annual Notice of Intent (Option 1) to local school division superintendent by August 15. Four compliance paths: (1) parent with HS diploma files NOI, (2) religious exemption, (3) approved correspondence course, (4) certified tutor. Under Option 1, annual assessment due by August 1 -- options include standardized test (composite >= 23rd percentile), evaluator letter from a qualified evaluator, or correspondence course transcript.
How many days or hours of school does Virginia require?
Virginia sets no specific number of instructional days or hours for homeschoolers. Anchor counts each day for you as you log activities, and shows how many you have left.
Does Virginia require a portfolio or standardized testing?
Virginia requires either a portfolio or standardized testing — you choose which to submit.
Does Virginia require an annual evaluation?
No. Virginia does not require an annual evaluator review.
What records should I keep to homeschool in Virginia?
Keep attendance for every school day, samples of your student's work, and any test or evaluation results Virginia asks for. Homeschool Anchor builds all three from your daily logs and turns this state's rules into dated checkpoints, so nothing is reconstructed at the deadline.
Stay compliant without the paperwork
Free for 1 student. $8/month for the full family with PDF exports, photo activity logging, and AI-assisted summaries.
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Sources: HSLDA — Virginia · Virginia Department of Education · last verified 2026-08-08 · Always verify with your state homeschool association before relying on this.